National News: Labels Face Antitrust Suit; Arbitron; Bergman Catalogue

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An antitrust lawsuit alleging price fixing of digital downloads by the major labels has been reinstated by a federal appeals court. EMI, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, are among the defendants in the case that will be allowed to proceed. The U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the October 2008 decision of a lower court which dismissed the case.

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Board member William Kerr has been named President/CEO of Arbitron following the resignation of Michael Skarzynski.

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Spirit Music Group has acquired Threesome Music, the song catalogue of acclaimed multiple Grammy, Oscar and Emmy-winning songwriters Alan and Marilyn Bergman. Through the agreement, Spirit will acquire rights to more than 300 songs recorded by such classic artists as Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Sarah Vaughan, Celine Dion and Luciano Pavarotti. The catalog also includes timeless standards recorded by Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Neil Diamond/Barbra Streisand, and Michael Jackson.

Rich Welcomes Son; Jackson Single From Upcoming Album

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jrCongratulations to John Rich and his wife Joan on the birth of their first child. Son Cash Rich was born Sunday morning at a Nashville hospital. The couple wed in 2008.

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Alan Jackson’s new single, “It’s Just That Way,” is available now for digital download. It is the first single from Jackson’s next album, arriving this spring.
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Tim McGraw, the Dixie Chicks, and Sheryl Crow are among those featured on a new soundtrack inspired by the acclaimed HBO Documentary By The People: The Election Of Barack Obama, available exclusively on iTunes. Produced by Michael McDonald and Mark Levinsohn, the project also features John Mayer, Dave Matthews, and Jon Bon Jovi. All proceeds, including artist and publishing royalties, are going to United Way to support Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts.

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A fashion line by local rockers Kings of Leon is coming out this month via Paris design collective Surface to Air. It will reportedly be available in Paris, Sao Paulo, online and selected stores worldwide.

McGraw Movie Sets Up In Music City

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tim-mThe new movie starring Tim McGraw and Gwyneth Paltrow began production in Nashville this week. MusicRow first broke the story of the new film in October. Shooting will begin in mid January and run through the end of February. Previously reported filming locations include McGraw’s Middle Tennessee ranch.

Love Don’t Let Me Down centers around a down-on-her-luck country singer trying for a comeback (Paltrow), her husband and manager (McGraw), a beauty queen turned singer (Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester) and a gifted songwriter (Friday Night Lights’ Garrett Hedlund). The Hollywood Report says the stars will sing in the musical. Paltrow, an Oscar winner, also sang in the 2000 flick Duets.

E online reports Tobey Maguire is producing the movie but is not expected to have a role. Shana Feste, a favorite from last year’s Sundance, wrote and directed the project. Sony’s Screen Gems, known for the Resident Evil and Underworld movies, is on board as the production company.

The $15 million project will tap area residents for almost 75 percent of the film’s crew and 90 percent of the film’s cast. A posting on Craigslist says the casting office is accepting submissions for paid extras.

McGraw currently appears in the blockbuster hit The Blind Side, which has already made about $220 million.

TV Update: Luke Bryan, Gloriana, Gatlins, Grammys

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luke-bLuke Bryan will perform his chart-topping hit “Do I” on CBS’ The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson this Friday, Jan. 15. Next week, Bryan will hit the road performing his own headlining dates as well as guesting on Jason Aldean’s Wide Open Tour.

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glorianaGloriana will appear on Ellen tomorrow Wednesday, Jan. 13, performing hit single “How Far Do You Wanna Go?” The foursome has been performing several headlining shows including sell-outs in Seattle and Modesto last week. Next month Gloriana and Kellie Pickler will return as openers for Taylor Swift‘s Fearless 2010 Tour when they head to Australia for several dates, and return to the U.S. for concerts March through June, most of which have already sold-out.

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It’s been at least two decades since Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers appeared on late night television, but tomorrow night, Wed. Jan. 13, Jimmy Kimmel welcomes the boys to his show on ABC.

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The 52nd Annual GRAMMY® Awards air live on CBS Jan. 31, 8–11:30 PM ET/PT. Fans will get to vote online to choose the song nominee Bon Jovi performs on the show. Bon Jovi joins previously announced performers and nominees Beyoncé, the Black Eyed Peas, the Dave Matthews Band, Green Day, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga, Maxwell, P!nk, Taylor Swift, and the Zac Brown Band. All five Album Of The Year nominees — Beyoncé, the Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga, the Dave Matthews Band, and Taylor Swift — are set to perform on Music’s Biggest Night®. The Grammy’s fully integrated ad campaign, “We’re All Fans,” highlights music fans’ unprecedented impact in the current digital age. It centers on the Web site, www.wereallfans.com, an interactive experience of user-submitted content.

On Tour’s Eve, Rascal Flatts Reflect On 10 Years of Hits

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rascal flattsAs Rascal Flatts prepare to open the final leg of their American Living Unstoppable Tour this weekend, the group is reflecting on ten years of success. Since 2000, when Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney released their debut single “Prayin’ For Daylight” and subsequent first album, Rascal Flatts has become the top country group of the decade.

The upcoming tour sponsored by JCPenney and Hershey’s features support from Darius Rucker. It opens with two shows in Uncasville, Connecticut and closes March 10. The first leg of the tour sold 550,000 tickets for 39 shows since June 2009, including sold-out stadium concerts in Chicago and Columbus. The band’s 2009 tours sold over a million concert tickets, bringing its 4 year total to just over 4 million tickets sold.

Over the last decade, the Lyric Street act has delivered 11 No. 1 singles, and sold more than 20 million albums and 25 million digital downloads. It has more titles in Billboard’s Top 100 Songs of the Decade than any other group in the format. And all six of its studio albums made Billboard’s Top 100 Country Albums of the Decade list.

With almost 40 trophies, Rascal Flatts is the most awarded country group of the new millennium. And the band’s fundraising for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville has brought in over $3 million in the past few years.

Throughout 2010, Rascal Flatts will mark its 10th anniversary with special fan events, including the new 10-year anniversary web site.

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Phil Vassar Plans First Overseas Tour

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Phil Vassar

Phil Vassar

Phil Vassar will launch his first overseas tour on Jan. 26 in London, England, wrapping in Munich, Germany on Feb. 1. The Show Dog-Universal Music artist is currently touring the states to support his recent release Traveling Circus.

His overseas tour will include a full media schedule, with appearances on various TV shows in London and Ireland, as well as the BBC.

“I am thrilled to finally be on my way to share my music and show with some of the world’s most passionate music lovers,” says Vassar. “To be able to perform in four countries in one week is quite a feat, but I am ready for it. I am extremely proud of the record I have recorded with my touring band, they are my brothers, and to be able to have this experience is something we have been waiting to do for quite some time.”

Vince And Amy Mark 10 Years; News From Chesney, Sugarland

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vince amyAmy Grant and Vince Gill are on the cover of the newest issue of Good Housekeeping. The couple is celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary, and reflect on the last decade in the February issue of the magazine.

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kennyKenny Chesney is balancing studio time with preparations for his upcoming 3D movie. He is the final editing stages of Kenny Chesney: Summer in 3-D, the film that captures several NFL stadium stops on last year’s Sun City Carnival Tour. In addition, he’s working on the follow-up his introspective Lucky Old Sun with producer Buddy Cannon and developing a couple projects that will be announced later this year. He is not mounting a major summer tour this year, but will play select dates. Chesney’s new Blue Chair Bay clothing line is out now and being sold in Nashville at Opryland Resort’s boutique, Cowboys and Angels.

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Sugarland has teamed with Dr Pepper to give one lucky fan an unrivaled experience at the 45th Annual ACM Awards in Las Vegas this April. The winner and a guest will enjoy a weekend of country music with tickets to the awards show, as well as passes to a special Dr Pepper Welcome Reception with Sugarland and the post awards ACM All-Star Jam. Fans can enter for a chance to win at drpepper.com now through March 31. The 45th Academy of Country Music Awards show airs Sunday, April 18 on CBS.

Conway’s New Firm Consulting For Ronnie Gilley Entertainment

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tonyVeteran Nashville talent executive Tony Conway has formed an entertainment consulting firm and will be acting as talent consultant and executive producer for Ronnie Gilley Entertainment. RGE’s live entertainment interests include the annual BamaJam Music & Arts Festival, as well as the multiplex of venues at the new multi-million dollar Country Crossing destination near Dothan, Alabama, which is having its grand opening this weekend.

This is the first of several projects and companies Conway will announce in the next few weeks.

Last November Conway left his post as CEO and co-owner of Nashville based Buddy Lee Attractions after 33 years with the agency.

Conway is currently serving as Executive Producer of RGE’s 2010 BamaJam Music & Arts Festival, running June 3-5 in Enterprise, Alabama; as well as the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, June 10-13.

As part of his new association, he will consult on talent and the development of additional special events, festivals and live music concert presentations in the planning stages for the Ronnie Gilley Entertainment group.

Conway is taking the talent reins for RGE’s 3rd Annual Verizon Wireless BamaJam Music & Arts Festival, with more than 40 artists scheduled to appear on four music stages, including Hank Williams, Jr., Kenny Chesney, Jake Owen, Miranda Lambert, and LoCash Cowboys. The event near Enterprise, Alabama drew in excess of 125,000 fans last year.

Conway is also overseeing this weekend’s (Jan. 15-17) Grand Opening celebration at Country Crossing. Twenty artists are set to perform at the three-day extravaganza, including Tracy Lawrence, Joe Nichols, Darryl Worley, Neal McCoy, Lorrie Morgan, John Anderson, The Commodores, and Pam Tillis. The attraction’s venues set to celebrate official openings this weekend are the George Jones Possum Holler Bed & Breakfast, Lorrie Morgan’s Hot Chicken, John Anderson’s Cafeteria, Darryl Worley’s Worley Bird Saloon, and The Grascals Bluegrass Hollow RV Park.

In his work with RGE, Conway will continue to based in Nashville. Contact information for Conway is: tconwaytn@gmail.com / 615-478-4989

Universal Music Partners With Freeallmusic.com

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famAccording to techcruch.com, Universal Music is partnering with new music download service freeallmusic.com to offer consumers legal, DRM-free, high-quality digital downloads at no charge from its massive catalog, which includes Taylor Swift, Sugarland, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and more. Here’s the catch: registered users on freeallmusic.com have to sit through a 15-30 second video commercial for every download. Downloads will be offered to users 20 free per month, five per week, starting every Tuesday. Brands participating are Coca-Cola, Warner Bros, Zappos, Lionsgate, LG, and more.

“It’s iTunes meets Hulu,” says Richard Nailling, chief executive of FreeAllMusic in an article on nytimes.com. After downloading music, users will have the opportunity to post the information to their Facebook and Twitter pages in hopes of recruiting more users for advertisers.

The service is currently in private testing mode, but interested users can sign up to receive an invitation when it becomes available. Aside from Universal, one other yet-to-be-named major label has signed to provide its full digital catalog on FAM. Check out the freeallmusic Twitter for updates on the company’s launch.

Signings: Josh Gracin’s New Team; Molly Hunt

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Josh Gracin

Josh Gracin

Josh Gracin is building a new team, and has recently signed with Buddy Lee Attractions for booking representation. BLA Pres. Kevin Neal will be the responsible agent and can be reached at 615-244-4336 and kneal@blanash.com.

As a former Lyric Street artist, Gracin had hits such as “I Want To Live,” “Nothin’ To Lose,” “Stay With Me (Brass Bed),” and “We Weren’t Crazy.” The former Marine burst onto the national scene in 2003 as a finalist on American Idol.

Kevin Neal

Kevin Neal

It was previously announced that Gracin has signed with Full Scope Entertainment for management, working with Ken Madson (615-329-4762, kenmadson@gmail.com). His new label home is Average Joes Entertainment; also the home to country rapper Colt Ford. Contact Shannon Houchins at 615-329-4762 and averagejoesent@gmail.com. A new single is expected in the spring. Essential Broadcast Media’s Leigh Parr is handling publicity (615-327-3259 leigh@essentialbroadcastmedia.com).

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molly

Singer-songwriter Molly Hunt recently signed with Ann Wilson Music, Inc. The 13-year-old has been making the co-writing rounds on Music Row. Pictured at her BMI signing: Hunt, BMI’s David Preston and Ann Wilson.